Ecological Functions of Shallow, Unvegetated Esturaine Habitats and Potential Dredging Impacts (With Emphasis on Chesapeake Bay)

摘要

The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is faced with increasing numbers of requests to dredge shallow, unvegetated estuarine waters. Most of those proposals involve tidal waters ranging in depth from man low water (MLW) to 1.2 m (4 ft) below MLW, with projected post-dredging depths if 1.8 m (6 ft) below MLW. This technical note summarizes what is known about the ecological functions of these habitats and the potential impacts of dredging.